Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on Sleep Patterns.

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To examine the long-term impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on sleep patterns and prevalence of sleep disorders and to increase public health awareness of long COVID. MATERIAL AND Using the centralized Massachusetts General Brigham Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients were surveyed about their sleep patterns before and after the viral infection. Information related to co-morbid conditions and medications was obtained through chart review. Two hundred forty-six completed surveys were analyzed. The average age was 53.3 ± 16.3 years, and participants were predominantly non-Hispanic White (84.1%) and female (74.3%). The average BMI (kg/m2 ) was 29.9 ± 6.9, and a greater proportion were non-smokers (63.2%). After COVID-19, there was an increase in the percentage of participants reporting difficulty initiating sleep (39 ± 49% vs 31 ± 46% prior to COVID infection, P = .01). Similarly, the participants reported difficulty maintaining sleep after COVID infection (57% vs 43% prior to infection P < .001). Additionally, there was an increase in the use of sleep aids (30% vs 24% before the infection, P = .003). The participants also reported a decrease in feeling rested and an increase in the need for napping (58% vs. 36%, P < .0001) and (27% vs. 40%, P < .0001), respectively. The sleep symptoms persisted beyond 12 months among 28% of the participants. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 was shown to have negative effects on sleep, and a significant proportion of adults experienced insomnia and daytime sleepiness beyond 12 months after recovering from the initial infection.